Means and methods to increase coumarin production

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of plant molecular biology, more particularly to the field of agriculture, even more particularly to the field of improving the yield of coumarins in plants. The present invention provides chimeric genes and constructs which can be used to enhance the coumarin yield.

1 . A chimeric gene construct comprising the following operably linked DNA elements:
 a plant expressible promoter,   a DNA region encoding SEQ ID NO: 2 or a functional plant orthologue thereof; and   a 3′ end region comprising transcription termination and polyadenylation signals functioning in cells of a plant.   
     
     
         2 . The chimeric gene construct of  claim 1 , wherein the DNA region is a multicistronic DNA region encoding SEQ ID NO: 2 or a functional plant orthologue thereof coupled to a DNA region encoding a feruloyl-CoA 6′-hydroxylase 1 or a functional plant orthologue thereof. 
     
     
         3 . A recombinant vector comprising the chimeric gene construct of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         4 . A plant, plant cell, or plant seed comprising the chimeric gene construct of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         5 . A plant, plant cell or plant seed comprising
 the chimeric gene construct of  claim 1 ; and   a chimeric gene construct comprising the following operably linked DNA elements:   a plant expressible promoter,   a DNA region encoding a feruloyl-CoA 6′-hydroxylase 1 (F6′H1) or a functional plant orthologue thereof, and   a 3′ end region comprising transcription termination and polyadenylation signals functioning in cells of a plant.   
     
     
         6 . A method of preventing iron deficiency chlorosis, increasing the production of coumarins, and/or increasing fungal resistance in a plant the method comprising:
 expressing the DNA region of the chimeric gene construct of  claim 1  in the plant.   
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A method for producing a plant with reduced iron deficiency chlorosis, increased coumarin production, increased fungal resistance, and/or alternative lignin monomers as compared to a corresponding wild-type plant, the method comprising:
 introducing into a plant or transforming a plant with the chimeric gene of  claim 1 , and   selecting a plant with a stable expression of the chimeric gene.   
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The plant, plant cell or plant seed of  claim 4 , wherein the plant, plant cell or plant seed is a crop plant. 
     
     
         14 . The plant, plant cell or plant seed of  claim 4 , wherein the plant, plant cell or plant seed is a tree. 
     
     
         15 . The plant, plant cell, or plant seed of  claim 5 , wherein the plant, plant cell, or plant seed is a crop plant. 
     
     
         16 . The plant, plant cell, or plant seed of  claim 5 , wherein the plant, plant cell, or plant seed is a tree plant. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the plant is a crop plant. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the plant is a tree. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the plant is a crop plant. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the plant is a tree.